BY: ABDULLAHI ALHASSAN, KADUNA
Following the rising cases of cancer patients in Nigeria, Hassy’s Haven Foundation has disclosed that drug shortages are affecting cancer treatments in Nigeria.
This was just as the foundation called for an aggressive awareness campaign for early detection of the deadly disease, while also revealing that number of Nigerians who are down with cancer are far more than the available treatment in the country.
This was disclosed during the official launch of Hassy’s Haven Foundation in Kaduna on Sunday.
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Data made available by the foundation also revealed that in Nigeria, cancer leads to over 72,000 deaths per annum with male recording 30924 deaths, while female had reached 40 647 deaths.
However, this number is set to increase given that there are 102,000 new cases of cancer every year with the estimated incidence for breast cancer at 27%, cervix uteri stands at 14%, liver at 12%, while prostate and colorectum are at 12% and 4.1% respectively. This, as disclosed by the National Cancer Control Plan (2018-2022).
Meanwhile, the founder of the foundation, Husseina Mohammed Yakubu, however, advocated for more cancer treatment equipment in the country, especially in the northwest.
While speaking to newsmen during the launching, Miss Yakubu, explained that her late twin sister, Miss Hassana Mohammed Yakubu, died of cancer after demonstrating uncommon resilience for a few years after proper diagnosis was carried out.
On the reason for the establishment of the foundation, she said: ” the aim is to alert the public, and create awareness about the deadly disease, its prevention and available support services, among others.
“Findings have also shown that the majority of the cancer patients in the country cannot afford the available treatment within and outside the country, because most of the cancer relief drugs and chemotherapy are far beyond their reach.
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“We are lending our voices to other Nigerians, while also calling on the federal and state government to declare a state of emergency on cancer in Nigeria. We saw the success recorded in the HIV/AIDS when it was made a top priority some decades ago.
“Again, we are calling on the governors of northwestern states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa and Sokoto, to immediately come together and equip the secondary and tertiary hospitals in the zone with cancer treatment equipment to reduce the nightmare of traveling far distance for chemotherapy.”